Stories of
American Heroes -
Brought to you from the "Home of Heroes" - Pueblo, Colorado

Martin Jones Hawkins

TAPS

Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.

Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night.

Woodland Cemetery

Born:1830 at Mercer
County, PA

Entered
Service in the US Army from Portsmouth, OH

Earned The Medal of Honor During the Civil War For heroism
April, 1862 at Andrew's Raiders, GA

Died:February
07, 1886 at the age of 56

In April 1862
General Mitchell and General Buell tasked 22 volunteers
(including 2 civilians) under the leadership of James Andrews,
with a daring raid. The men, later known as "Andrews'
Raiders" penetrated 200 miles into enemy territory to
capture a railroad train at Big Shanty, Georgia. Their mission
was to destroy vital railroad lines and bridges between
Chattanooga and Atlanta to disrupt movement of Confederate
soldiers and supplies. Only partially successful, their capture
of the locomotive "The General" resulted in a nearly
100 mile race that became known as "The Great Locomotive
Chase". Corporal Hawkins was one of these raiders,
traveling in a small group for four days to reach Big Shanty and
then joining the reunited group in the daring sabotage mission.
In the ensuing race, a limited amount of damage was accomplished
to bridges and rail lines, and in the end all members of the
Andrew's Raid were captured and confined in Confederate prisons.
On June 7th James Andrews was hanged as a spy, and on the 18th
seven more raiders (including the civilian members) were hanged.
Fourteen raiders later escaped their prison camp. Hawkins was 1
of 8 recaptured and returned to prison.